NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year. Listen now to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The body of former President Jimmy Carter is lying in repose in Atlanta this evening. Marlin Hyde from member station WABE reports members of the state legislature observed a moment of silence when Carter arrived in the state capitol earlier today. A crowd of Georgia lawmakers watched as the motorcade carrying the remains of former U.S.

President Jimmy Carter paused in front of the Georgia state capitol in Atlanta. Jack Carter, the eldest son of Jimmy and Rosalynn, and Jason Carter, their grandson, shook hands with political leaders as part of the ceremony. Members of the state legislature gathered to pay their respects, including former Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyrie. Jimmy Carter, he was an awesome person. A giant pine tree has fallen in the state of Georgia forests. And for that, I'm humbled and a little emotional today. Carter's remains will lie in repose at the Carter Center for viewing until Tuesday, before heading to Washington, D.C.

For NPR News, I'm Marlon Hyde in Atlanta. A massive winter storm is forecast to hit more than two dozen states in the U.S. The National Weather Service says heavy snowfall, icy conditions, sleet and rain are expected to hit the central plains, the mid-Atlantic region and southern U.S. over the next several days. NPR's Monzi Khurana reports 62 million Americans are in the path of the storm. Monzi Khurana, NPR News This year's first major winter storm is predicted to bring blizzard-like conditions to the central plains

on Sunday. There is expected to be at least 8 inches of snow from central Kansas to Indiana. The storm will reach the east coast by Sunday night. Travel delays are possible, especially if rain begins to freeze into ice. This can also make road conditions dangerous and power outages can occur. Severe thunderstorms are expected to roll into the south on Sunday. To stay up to date on conditions in your area, check for alerts from the National Weather Service. Manzi Khurana, NPR News. Authorities are learning more about the man who slammed a pickup truck into a crowd in

New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing at least 14 people. The driver, who was shot dead by police, was born in Texas and had served in the U.S. Army. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports the FBI now believes he was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group. In a directed attack, a terrorist organization is in contact with a person or a cell of people, say, in the United States and directs them, for example, to attack a specific target. In an inspired attack, in contrast, there doesn't need to be any direct contact. An individual instead can say, watch or read ISIS propaganda online, come to sympathize with the group's ideology or its worldview, and then decide to carry out violence to act in the group's name on their own.

That's NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting. This is NPR News in Washington. Authorities are stepping up security in Washington, D.C., ahead of Monday's certification of the November election. Dave Sundberg is the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office. He says authorities are closely monitoring any potential threats. That being said, we are certainly operating in a heightened threat environment,

especially given the incidents in both New Orleans and in Las Vegas on January 1st. At this time, we have no information indicating a local threat associated with either of those incidents. Monday marks four years since the January 6th insurrection. A 17-year-old has become the youngest-ever world champion in darts. It's not just a bar game but a sport with an annual World Championship tournament. NPR's Lauren Frere reports.

A former junior world champion Luke Littler is a darts prodigy. The BBC has been broadcasting home videos of him as a toddler throwing darts before he was out of diapers. After beating a Dutch player in the final, Littler told reporters, I just can't believe it. Walking around backstage with it, I can tell myself I've won it and it's mine, but it's not something. He's helped popularize the sport of darts. 90,000 tickets for this year's championship sold out in 15 minutes and many fans attended

the final in festive costumes. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington. The Indicator is a podcast where daily economic news is about what matters to you. Workers have been feeling the sting of inflation. So as a new administration promises action on the cost of living, taxes and home prices, the S&P 500 biggest post-election day spike ever, follow all the big changes and what they mean for you.

Make America affordable again. Listen to The Indicator, the daily economics podcast from NPR.